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lol....i think the research has always shown something promising but yet fails us every single time. so i have decided not to place my hopes on them

How exactly do you define "progress"? At one time, I took 32 pills, each and every day, just to treat my HIV. I now take three to do the same thing. If HIV drug research "fails us every single time", where exactly did we get all the new classes of drugs?

2020 isn't that far away, what 6 1/2 years give or take. So I do not expect a panacea of change. Change happens incrementally, sure sometimes you hit a breakthrough but most change happens in incremental steps.

We will probably have a few more single tablet options. We may even have one (maybe two) options that require once a week or even once a month dosing. Kinda like how old ladies take a Boniva pill once a month.

I don't expect a cure (but I'm a pessimist. They will be closer sure. But the FDA is going to make fucking damn sure that any new treatment is safe and effective before they allow a new wide scale treatment when there is already an effective treatment available...think about it. And that could take many years to demonstrate with many clinical trials before any new type of treatment/cure attempt is approved).

How exactly do you define "progress"? At one time, I took 32 pills, each and every day, just to treat my HIV. I now take three to do the same thing. If HIV drug research "fails us every single time", where exactly did we get all the new classes of drugs?

Joe

I am truly sorry for my word. What I meant was to cure HIV entirely.the treatment has definitely improved a lot over years. We all hope the treatment's improving day by day to lengthen our lives with less harm hope the day will come sooner.

I really hope there is some kind of major advancement in treatment soon-ish. Like in the next couple of years. I was truly miserable when I was doing the last clinical trial/LTNP study visit in Boston in January, but I will do it again and again as long as they ask me and as lonng as my job will let me take the time off. I've lost too many friends to be complacent now.

There are no fewer than three trials underway to distribute HIV meds once every six months via I.V. which will, for people who have an UD VL, provide a relief from any other medication. This much I know because I am part of that trial. If and when they decide I qualify and they proceed in the Atlanta area, I will keep you guys informed.

Thing is, cynics aside, there is no reason that, by 2020, what we conceive as a "functional cure" won't be realized.

Logged

"Many people, especially in the gay community, turn to oral sex as a safer alternative in the age of AIDS. And with HIV rates rising, people need to remember that oral sex is safer sex. It's a reasonable alternative."

There are no fewer than three trials underway to distribute HIV meds once every six months via I.V. which will, for people who have an UD VL, provide a relief from any other medication. This much I know because I am part of that trial. If and when they decide I qualify and they proceed in the Atlanta area, I will keep you guys informed.

Thing is, cynics aside, there is no reason that, by 2020, what we conceive as a "functional cure" won't be realized.

I was wondering if they would finally have a clinical trial for the long lasting ART shot/I.V. treatment. I remember hearing about it a long time ago and then nothing. Is it for treatment naive (never been on meds) or for someone already UD on meds. What's the link so I can check out the qualifications and read more about it? (both poz forum and the study itself)

2020 isn't that far away, what 6 1/2 years give or take. So I do not expect a panacea of change. Change happens incrementally, sure sometimes you hit a breakthrough but most change happens in incremental steps.

We will probably have a few more single tablet options. We may even have one (maybe two) options that require once a week or even once a month dosing. Kinda like how old ladies take a Boniva pill once a month.

I don't expect a cure (but I'm a pessimist. They will be closer sure. But the FDA is going to make fucking damn sure that any new treatment is safe and effective before they allow a new wide scale treatment when there is already an effective treatment available...think about it. And that could take many years to demonstrate with many clinical trials before any new type of treatment/cure attempt is approved).

The data supports Bug's line of thinking. The best way to see what the future holds is to see where the money is being spent today. Based on the Treatment Action Group's Global Investments in HIV Treatment Research and Development in 2010 and 2011, the $2.5 billion/year of funding is spent as follows:

I think in five years we will have much better drugs, a much better understanding of the basic science, and a realistic expected timeline towards a vaccine or cure. I think we will also see a blurring of the definition between treatment drugs and a vaccine -- for example, would a once per year treatment (that worked as both treatment and PREP) be considered a vaccine?

Funny how the future always seems to surprise us when it becomes the present. I mean where are all the flying cars we were promised we'd have by now???Who would have predicted in 2006, that 20% of the states would have legal same-sex marriages by 2013???

My point -- predicting the future is best left to those with actual crystal balls. Hope is a great thing, so long as folks don't begin believing the hoped for timelines and outcomes.